Gerry and Mary Ann Beard have established the Gerry and Mary Ann Beard Agribusiness scholarship at Hannibal-LaGrange University.
This scholarship will award $2,000 each to three recipients. Recipients must be full-time students, meet admission requirements, demonstrate Christian character in and out of the classroom, and participate in the HLGU Agribusiness Program.
The Beards operate Beard Implement Company and are dealers in Case IH, New Holland, Kubota, and other short lines for the agriculture industry.
Beard Implement Company was founded by the Beard family 85 years ago and now operates in several locations, including Arenzville IL, Ashland IL, Pittsfield IL, and Hannibal MO.
“We are so pleased that Gerry and Mary Ann are partnering with Hannibal-LaGrange to help provide opportunity for area students to gain strength and knowledge in the agribusiness field,” said Dr. Ray Carty, vice president for institutional advancement at HLGU.
HLGU’s agribusiness program is for students who wish to become involved in agricultural allied industries or directly in production agriculture upon graduation. The HLGU Agribusiness program is embodied in conservative, Christian, freedom-loving values and is taught by faculty with in-depth, real-world agribusiness and business experience.
“Thank you to the Beards for their commitment to our growing agribusiness program. We truly value their partnership,” said Tim Finlay, instructor of business and agribusiness program leader. “This gift will help additional area students participate in our agribusiness program that is being designed to build future ag business leaders.”
Graduates from the agribusiness program will have a Bachelor of Science in Business with an 18-hour emphasis in agribusiness—which provides them a solid base to launch into a career in agriculture. Some of the agribusiness courses include agricultural management, sales, marketing, economics, policy, and government policy. The program also features opportunities for internships, is transfer friendly, and provides students with hands-on learning experiences.
For more information about the scholarship, or HLGU’s agribusiness program, contact Tim Finlay at 573.629.3028, or tim.finlay@hlg.edu.
Hannibal-LaGrange University is a four-year Christian university fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The University prides itself in the traditional and nontraditional educational experience it offers in a distinctively Christian environment.